Graduate Apprenticeship in Engineering: Instrumentation, Measurement and Control Course with BEng (Hons) Degree

Program Overview

This Graduate Apprenticeship program combines academic study with work-based learning, providing students with a grounding in instrumentation and automation. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful professional engineers in process-related industries, with a focus on sustainability and ethical decision-making. The program is delivered online with on-campus workshops and includes support from workplace mentors and university staff.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Graduate Apprenticeships are an innovative route to a degree qualification blending academic study with work-based learning, supported by the student’s employer. This course covers topics in instrumentation and automation providing the student with a grounding in engineering principles, concepts and theories involving managerial, technical and environmental issues in the modern workplace. Instrumentation, Measurement and Control provides the student with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to become successful professional engineers within process related industries. Students will learn how to apply their knowledge and skills to the solution of real world problems of designing, operating and maintaining industrial plants and equipment. The course combines workplace learning with a programme of education designed to meet students' career ambitions, supporting progression and enriching technical and professional skills.

Outline:

• Year 1:
• Learn fundamental practical and theoretical skills essential within the general engineering discipline:
• Using tools and equipment to draw and make things
• Expanding mathematical skills
• Enhancing science and engineering to comprehend how things work and are controlled
• Learning about working in industry
• Year 2:
• Build on the first year, students will find out more about electronics and control, by looking at signals - how to transmit and process them - and controlling systems using microprocessors.
• Learn management and technical skills by working through an embedded controller project.
• Year 3:
• Work on technically challenging group projects to develop core skills in communication and project management, balancing leadership and individual responsibility.
• Enhance process related technical skills in areas of control systems, metrology and understanding industrial installations and issues relating to their operation.
• Year 4:
• Build on the student's skills and independent working by undertaking the honours project.
• Include advanced subjects in control and estimation, batch processing, quality, alarm management and the integration of inter-related systems; basic process control, fire and gas, safety instrumented, and emergency shutdown systems.

Assessment:

• A variety of assessment methods are used in this course, as deemed appropriate to the learning outcomes and subject material being assessed and the context in which the material is delivered.
• Students will be assessed for each module using a variety of formative and summative assessment methods including:
• Reports
• Case studies
• Portfolios of evidence
• Logbooks
• Presentations
• Engineering drawings
• Product evaluation
• CAD and CAM assignments
• On-line tests
• NC programming
• Project reports
• In year 4, students are assessed on their dissertation and on project outputs.

Teaching:

• The teaching and learning strategy for this course is characterised by a commitment to ensuring a genuine interaction between theoretical and work-based learning.
• It enables the student to acquire and develop the subject knowledge and understanding necessary for successful professional employment.
• The course is mainly delivered online through our virtual learning environment (VLE) with one or two full-day(s) on campus workshop per module.
• Staff are lecturers from traditional courses taught currently at RGU along with the potential for recorded guest lectures delivered by industry experts.
• Teaching will be undertaken mostly by staff with established expertise in the subject area of instrumentation, measurement, and control, who hold a chartership status CEng and who are already involved in joint projects with different industrial partners.

Careers:

• A Graduate Apprenticeship synchronises theoretical learning with practical experience.
• Students joining this Graduate Apprenticeship course will already be at full-time employment, thus they will be at any level of their work experience and career.
• This course offers benefits to both the employee and the employer, meeting the long-term development needs of both business and student.
• Students exiting with this Graduate Apprenticeship degree qualification will have potential future career options including:
• Entry into the process industries
• Research and development in automation companies
• Energy companies
• Safety-related companies

Other:

• This course is committed to United Nation's Sustainability Goals 4, 7, 9 and 11.
• The course is designed to meet the national frameworks developed by Skills Development Scotland, the subject frameworks of the QAA and the skill and knowledge areas identified as crucial by industry.
• Students undertake a variety of modules to provide the fundamental concepts of sustainability including environmental, social, and economic aspects.
• You will gain knowledge on design for sustainability by integrating renewable energy systems and energy efficient devices in engineering design.
• Modules are aimed to be updated based on the latest advancements in sustainable electronics and incorporate new information into the teaching materials as appropriate.
• You will also learn how to think critically about the ethical implications of your engineering decisions and foster a sense of social responsibility.
• Employers assign a Workplace Mentor whose role will be to oversee the work-based learning undertaken by the student.
• In addition to mentoring support for students, supplementary support may be provided by the employer, for example when subject matter experts are brought in to provide specific business or technical expertise or through access to other departments within the organisation.
• This ensures that the curriculum is fully covered as the student progresses in their studies.
• During the first year of study, access is provided to a dedicated Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach to help make the most of all learning opportunities.
• All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle.
• You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.
• The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:
• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support
• The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need.
• We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.
• Students will be in full-time employment throughout the duration of the course, therefore extensive use is made of work-based learning.
• All applicants must be employed full-time in a role related to the course of study, must have the right to live and work in Scotland and be working in Scotland.
• The employer must commit to providing a suitable workplace environment and to offering guidance and mentoring support to the apprentice.
• In addition, the company must be willing to partner with the university via a Collaboration Agreement to create a setting in which the student will be able to achieve the required experience and learning outcomes.

For Academic Year 2023/2024 £1,820 per academic year For Academic Year 2022/2023 £1,820 per academic year